PICS: Boipelo brings glory to Alex

Alex was in a celebratory mood recently when it welcomed home Boipelo Mabe with a street parade after her victory as the second runner-up in the coveted 2017 Miss South Africa beauty pageant.

The pageant displays beauty and brains, with vivacious and petite ladies who, after months of gruelling hard work give it their all on stage to win one of the three most important accolades dreamed of by many aspirant beauty queens. Hence the serenading of the humble Boipelo of 6th Avenue who, despite a socially deprived background defeated all the odds to become one of the three 2017 queens and the only winner to emerge from Alex.

In their hundreds, Alexandrians welcomed her and jovially thanked her in the parade for placing the township on the national and global map of pageant followers.

The occasion ended with her joining the legion of notable and honorary figures of the township with a plaque unveiled in her honour at the new Alex Mall in Tsutsumani. The unassuming and emotionally controlled Boipelo praised the township and said its poor conditions shouldn’t determine one’s desires and aspirations in life. “Poverty shouldn’t limit one from achieving their goals, as long as they are prepared to give it their all. It was a gruelling contest and like in anything, rewards will always come from hard work. I hope my achievement will inspire children and the youth and, importantly, encourage them to commit and remain in school as education is the only guarantee to a better life,” she said.

A master’s student at Wits University and ambassador to many local schools, Boipelo committed to promoting education during her reign. “I will also encourage children to regard negative circumstances as surmountable obstacles and their poverty as a stereotype to be broken by setting and working diligently to achieve their ambitions.”

The hard work she endured in the process was no regret for Boipelo. “I grew from the challenge, didn’t want a loss and am proud of my resilience. I introspected, understood and worked towards my potential and hope to be a platform and springboard for others to help profile Alex positively.”

She commended the opportunity for also exposing her to a wider network of like-minded people and generous sponsors with whom she hopes to share her time and their products in enhancing the image of the pageant and in improving the township.

She lauded her family, neighbours and friends for standing by her.

The fanfare was organised by the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Alex Youth Advisory Centre. Mush Raletjena of the centre lauded Boipelo as being a role model for the youth struggling with teen pregnancy and substance abuse. “She is one to associate with. She has resuscitated the local beauty pageant, is a successful young entrepreneur and a motivational speaker,” he said.

Boipelo will participate in a Women in Business event to be organised by the chamber in August.

Details: Boipelo Mabe 083 737 3333; Alex Chamber of Commerce and Industry 011 440 7887; Alex Youth Advisory Centre 011 050 1991.

Also read:

Mabe hopes to use her windfall to impact her community

Mabe makes Alex proud as first Miss SA semi-finalist

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